It was a scorcher and Reed Sunday seconds were playing away at Newport. Despite what seemed a young a possibly inexperienced side the hosting captain decided to bat first. Neil Haslam (5-0-16-1) started proceedings with some nice swing and with Chris West (7-0-40-2) also striking at the other end Reed had soon got into the Newport batsmen. However, Newport were making runs thanks to impressive innings from D. Herd (51), Spanle (13) and Williams (33). Christian Martin (7-1-36-0) bowled well to the middle order but was unlucky not to pick up a wicket. Jack Tidey (6-1-7-3) with intimidating pace and James Bloor’s (5-1-25-3) almost bizarre hat trick were the highlights of Reeds fielding innings.
The bowlers supported were by wicket keeper Marcus J.E. Baker who took two catches for no extra runs. Mitchell Cooper (4-1-7-1) finished the Newport innings taking the final wicket for 135. The heat may have accounted for a few-miss fields but generally the fielding was good.
George Greaves (36) and Ed Blissett (19) gave Reed a good start with a partnership of 65 until Blissett was caught in the slips followed soon after by Greaves. However, numbers 3 and 4 M. Cooper (30*) and Graham Hazard (31) continued to attack the Newport bowling, Hazard with some classic ‘Bunker’ hard hitting found the boundary often. Soon enough Reed had reached the total Cooper hitting the winning runs finishing on 138 for 3.
